Collateral Opening

Collateral starts with a series of close ups on two different men's faces as they walk through a busy crowd. These shots have a very shallow depth of field, so that all the people around them are blurred, making the audience focus on their faces. Focus is also drawn to one in particular with the steady rhythm of his footsteps being the only clear sound heard. It is also made clear that he, out of the two men shown, is the main character as only he is shown in slow motion and the camera shows his point of view over his shoulder when it cuts to a different shot. His character is presented as a professional, as he is wearing a smart business suit.
There is also a close up on the two  identical bags as they are dropped and switched and the camera remains close to the two men as they talk, in a mid shot and an over the shoulder shot, to show the importance of the interaction. It also establishes the main character, as it shows organisation, efficiency, and casts suspicion onto him and what he is about to do. This suspicion is also added to by the lack of emotion he displays during this sequence, meaning that even through there are many close ups of his face no intimacy is built.

The opening also introduces the audience to the other main character. Instead of one wide shot to show the location there are a series of high speed shots that indicate the busyness of the workplace. It also highlights this character as separate from all of this, he isn't moving about frantically or talking among the others, he is sitting quietly by himself doing a crossword puzzle. This displays a level of intelligence and calm about him. This feeling of separateness is also increased by the complete cut out of sound when he closes the cab door. And the sense of calm organisation to him is developed more by the quick display of his caution with the time taken to check that all the lights are working before driving the car. Lastly the sequences also makes the audience bond slightly with the character with the close up of his face as he places a post card in the sun visor, he appears to have a goal he is working as a taxi driver for, and his face contains a trace of sadness that makes the audience feel sympathetic towards him.